Supreme Court orders one-third of SCBA posts to be reserved for women

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that at least one-third of posts in the executive committee (EC) of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) should be reserved for women..For this year, three executive members, two senior executive members and the treasurer of the SCBA are to be women, the Court added. The reserved posts do not include the post of SCBA president. .The order was passed by a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan.A similar matter had earlier been before the Delhi High Court. On February 29 this year, SCBA President Adish Aggarwala had assured the High Court that a general body meeting will be convened in two months to discuss amending the SCBA rules to reserve at least two posts in the executive committee for women lawyers.This assurance was given on a plea filed by advocate Yogamaya MG who had moved the High Court seeking directions so that the SCBA convenes a meeting to discuss the issue. Yogamaya had submitted that she had earlier written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud to suggest an amendment of the SCBA Rules to ensure at least two positions are earmarked for women lawyers in the executive committee of the SCBA.In her plea before the High Court, Yogamaya had highlighted that such an amendment was crucial to ensure inclusivity and diversity in the SCBA and to promote gender equality. As per that plea, the absence of adequate representation of women lawyers may perpetuate an environment where issues related to sexual harassment are not properly addressed.In response, the SCBA president had told the High Court that at least two months time would be needed to convene a general body meeting to discuss the issue since notice will have to be sent to the nearly 20,000 members of the SCBA.The High Court had then disposed of that petition after taking note of the SCBA President's assurance.